June has been a very busy month, so I haven’t posted much lately. Now I’ve got so much to tell you, I don’t know how to start. I’ll share it all in smaller segments, so I don’t bore you to death! 🙂

June started with a family trip to Branson, Missouri. Our oldest flew in from Florida, and our youngest drove over from Oklahoma with his wife and three children. I don’t think we had seen our kids and grand kids since the Christmas Holidays, so we were ecstatic that everyone could make it.

The long weekend started as we arrived Thursday afternoon and checked into our condo. Thursday evening we went to the Dixie Stampede where you sit “ring-side” and watch a show about our country’s history complete with horses, wagon races, singing, dancers, ostrich and piglet races, and an evening full of “competitions” between The North and The South. All of this takes place while we were served a delicious meal starting with broccoli and cheese soup for an appetizer followed by the main course, which was a whole roasted chicken, a slice of smoked tenderloin, baked potato and corn on the cob. Dessert was a wonderfully flakey apple turn over. Did I mention that there is NO silverware and you must eat everything with your hands?

They don’t allow pictures to be taken during the show but here is a couple of shots of us seated at our table before the show.

(L to R) Jade, Kylee, and Jackson looking at the horses in their stables before the show

Friday was the day we planned to go to Silver Dollar City. We could NOT have asked for better weather! It was sunny but not hot. The temperature was perfect! We rode the roller coasters, swings, and various other rides. Then we took a break for lunch and rode some more rides.

Just entered the park – before the chaos began!

This is a picture of Dad taking a picture of his kids on the Tea Cup ride.

Waiting in line for the most fun ride: The Flooded Mine

Returning from the American Log Plunge soaking wet!

The plan was to tour Marvel Cave late in the afternoon when it would be the hottest. We didn’t think about how tired we would be! Oh, well. It’s a lengthy walking tour, but we all made it just fine. It is a beautiful cave, and the pictures just don’t do it justice.

All in all, it was a wonderful day!

That evening we took Jade out for a special 12th birthday dinner at Sho Gun. She enjoyed her special evening so much!